Meet Eileen. The Vision behind the brand.

 

In 1984, I started EILEEN FISHER for a very personal reason: I was having 
trouble getting dressed. At the time I was working as an interior and graphic 
designer. In my mind I kept seeing these simple shapes for clothes. I knew 
they had to be beautiful colors, great fabrics and have certain shapes and 
proportions that worked together. This was my "aha" moment: a system of 
dressing that I'd been looking for ever since I abandoned my Catholic school 
uniform back in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Although I couldn't sew and only had $350 in the bank, I believed in these 
simple shapes. I had four shapes made up and took them to The Boutique 
Show in New York. Encouraged by $3000 in orders, I expanded my "line" 
to eight pieces. The second show brought in $40,000 in orders. Suddenly I 
wasn't just Eileen Fisher. I was EILEEN FISHER, INC.

 

I feel there's a role for EILEEN FISHER to play in this shift by sharing the 
collaboration skills we practice and helping to create the kind of change that 
wouldn't be possible if each of us acted alone. When I give talks, I often say 
that business can, indeed, change the world. EILEEN FISHER has done a lot by 
committing to organic and sustainable fibers, manufacturing clothing in the USA 
and recycling our clothes with GREEN EILEEN. There's much more to do. And I 
believe we can do it. I believe we can make a difference. Business can be a 
movement.